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This article is about the Comic Series character. You may be looking for his TV Series or Road to Survival counterparts, or the Novel Series character.

No. I should have left the Hilltop after the third expansion. I've done my time in civilization. I like living out here, how quiet it is. Also... I can't leave you guys on your own. What would you do without your cranky old neighbor?
―Earl to Sophia when asked if he wants to move back into town.[src]

Earl Sutton is a survivor of the outbreak in Image Comics' The Walking Dead. He is the blacksmith of Hilltop Colony, who provides gear and weaponry to the survivors. Several years after Rick Grimes' death, Earl left the Hilltop, retiring from his duties as a blacksmith, and moved to a cabin in the woods, next to the Grimes family.

Overview[]

Earl is a calm, level-headed, and hard-working man. Although generally not combat-proficient, Earl plays a vital role within the community as the blacksmith. He is responsible for creating the various weapons and gear for the other survivors, such as the spears used by the guards and Rick's prosthetic arm. He is very friendly and caring towards his fellow companions.

Earl is a wise mentor figure, as he takes in multiple apprentices under his wing to become blacksmiths, such as Rolland, Mikey, and Carl. Earl shows great patience with others and rarely ever loses his cool under pressure. Years after Rick Grimes' death, Earl is shown to have retired from being a blacksmith and lives a peaceful life in the woods. However, he still is shown to keep in touch with the other survivors and offers wisdom to Carl when he needs it.

Pre-Apocalypse[]

Location Unknown[]

Nothing is known about Earl's life before or as the outbreak began, except that he was a blacksmith.

Post-Apocalypse[]

At some point during the outbreak, he joined the Hilltop Colony where he began to create spears and other types of weapons for the guards, such as Kal and Eduardo, being the blacksmith of the Hilltop.

A Larger World[]

Earl watches from his blacksmith tent as Rick and his group enter for the first time.

March To War[]

Paul Monroe introduces Maggie to Earl and the two get acquainted. He and Earl discuss Paul's nickname and the controversy behind it being "Jesus". After being asked by Paul, he agrees to make Maggie a small personal knife for protection.

All Out War - Part Two[]

After the battle at the Hilltop, Earl is seen talking with Maggie. Earl is working on creating more weapons and he and Maggie have a conversation while he is working. He says that if he could work 24 hours straight every day to help the war effort, he would. Maggie then remarks that he is a good man.

A New Beginning[]

Sometime during the two-year timeskip, he and Carl Grimes talked about the possibility of the latter starting to apprentice with him. After Carl successfully convinces his father, he travels to the Hilltop so he can start working under Earl. When Carl comes to visit and approach about apprenticeship, he sees that Earl has taken on Rolland as an apprentice and leaves, dejected.

Later during communal lunch, Earl tells Carl to join him at his table. Carl explains his plans to move to the Hilltop and that that he's sad he cannot be Earl's apprentice, to which Earl responds, "Carl, who told you I could only have one apprentice?" He presents his offer to Carl to begin the very next day, and he enthusiastically accepts.

Whispers Into Screams[]

Earl is supervising Carl on his first day of smithing and compliments him on his arrowhead. Later, when Paul rides into the Hilltop Colony with an injured Darius, yelling for Doctor Carson, Earl comes running, along with Oscar, helps Darius off the horse and takes him to Doctor Carson. Earl is later seen working with Carl, dismissing him and telling him to ignore the bully's father, who is creepily staring at him.

Life And Death[]

Earl is present during the hanging of Gregory. Later he has a booth at the fair where he sells various blades and knifes. Unknowingly he meets Alpha who disguised as a normal resident and not wearing a whisperer outfit. He comments to Ezekiel that she seemed "strange".

Call To Arms[]

Earl is the one that informs Carl Grimes that both he and Lydia are safe and are welcome to go back to Alexandria. He also is present when Michonne brings Aaron back after an encounter with the Whisperers. Earl helps get Aaron to a doctor.

The Whisperer War[]

When the Whisperers attack the Hilltop Earl is one of the members who fights them off. When most of Hilltop is burned down or destroyed he, among everyone else travels to Alexandria.

A Certain Doom[]

Earl and the rest of Hilltop arrive at Alexandria as they are taken over by the mega heard. He later helps clear the heard, is there right after Andrea dies, and helps clean up the mess in Alexandria.

Lines We Cross[]

After Alexandria is cleaned up Earl, and everyone else from Hilltop head back home, and begin rebuilding their community.

With everyone pulling together and with help in labor and materials from the Kingdom significant progress is made in the rebuild.

Rest In Peace[]

Earl lives on his own as a neighbor to the Grimes family. He lives with multiple dogs on his farm, likely to protect him at his old age. He was visited by Carl, Sophia and Andrea, who suggested he move to another neighborhood, which had more older people, that he could be friends with, such as Brianna. He declined as he was happy where he was.

Killed Victims[]

This list shows the victims Earl has killed:

Relationships[]

For a more in-depth look at Earl's relationships, read here: Earl Sutton (Comic Series)/Relationships

Allies[]

Enemies[]

Appearances[]

Gallery[]

For more images of Earl Sutton, please visit Earl Sutton (Comic Series)/Gallery.

Trivia[]

  • Earl is the only known blacksmith in the Comic Series.

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